Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Infrequent |
InfrequentAdjective1. Not frequent; not occurring regularly or at short intervals; "infrequent outbursts of temper". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "infrequent" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1838. (references) |
Etymology: Infrequent \In*fre"quent\, adjective. [Latin expression infrquens compare to French infrequent. See In- not, and Frequent.]. (references) |
Synonym: InfrequentSynonym: uncommon. (additional references) |
| Antonym: frequent (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Fewness | Adjective: few; scant, scanty; thin, rare, scattered, thinly scattered, spotty, few and far between, exiguous; infrequent; rari nantes; hardly any, scarcely any; to be counted on one's fingers; reduced; Verb: unrepeated. |
Improbability | Rare; (infrequent); unheard of, inconceivable; unimaginable, inimaginable; incredible; more than doubtful; strange, bizarre (uncomformable). |
Infrequency | Adjective: unfrequent, infrequent; rare, rare as a blue diamond; few; scarce; almost unheard of, unprecedented, which has not occurred within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, not within one's previous experience; not since Adam. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Infrequent |
| English words defined with "infrequent": Anticyclonic storm ♦ constipated, constipation ♦ irregularity ♦ Magicicada septendecim ♦ oligomenorrhea ♦ periodical cicada ♦ seventeen-year locust ♦ To make one's self scarce ♦ Unfrequent. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "infrequent": Continuous Discharge ♦ Planned special exposure. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "infrequent": seldom. (references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Clever | Occasional, constant infrequent headaches. (references; author: unknown) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Plasmodium falciparum rings have delicate cytoplasm and 1 or 2 small chromatin dots. Infected RBCs are not enlarged, and RBCs with multiple rings are often found in P. falciparum. Maurer’s dots can be seen but are infrequent. Credit: CDC. |  | North Inlet - Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Canebrake rattlesnakes, common in the coastal plain of South Carolina, are infrequent visitors salt marsh edges. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR). |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Horace | A grudging and infrequent worshipper of the gods. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | The big infrequent drops of rain lanced down and splashed on the road, and as the truck moved along, the drops became smaller and close |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | While infrequent, infections appear to occur worldwide. (references) | |
Infrequent episodes of non-cardiac syncope usually do not require treatment. (references) | ||
Potentially occupationally acquired SNV infections have been recognized but are infrequent. (references) | ||
Business | Individual investors are infrequent. (references) | |
Documentation requirements follow international standards and delays in custom clearance have been infrequent. (references) | ||
Products like forks and spades have a much longer lifespan, and replacement purchases are much more infrequent. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Moldova | Voluntary repatriation and cases of family reunification are infrequent. (references) |
Laos | The Government controls all domestic Internet servers and blocks access to those Internet sites that are deemed pornographic or are critical of government institutions and policies, although such blockages are infrequent. (references) | |
Economic History | Nepal | Industrial actions are infrequent. (references) |
Human Rights | Mali | Police searches are infrequent and require judicial warrants. (references) |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | The report also noted that police and guards conducted sporadic, infrequent, and inefficient searches of the prison. (references) | |
Sri Lanka | Due to censorship and infrequent access, observers could not determine the state of affairs in the north and the east. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Paraguay | Low wages, long work hours, infrequent payment (or nonpayment) of wages, job insecurity, lack of access to social security benefits, and racial discrimination are common. (references) |
Political Economy | Sweden | There were infrequent reports of the use of excessive force by police. (references) |
PHILIPPINES | Delays in the issuance of warrants are a problem and arrests are infrequent. (references) | |
Trade | Thailand | The majority of U.S. firms exporting to Thailand conduct business on a documentary basis, and use various methods of financing such as letters of credit (L/Cs), bank drafts and wire transfers . New-to-market exporters and infrequent exporters should require confirmed, irrevocable L/Cs when initiating relationships with new importers and distributors . Once the importer has established a good payment record and the U.S. firm is convinced of the importer's trustworthiness, it is advisable to provide more lenient terms . However, in the present economic climate, many exporters are retaining tighter control on payment mechanisms than they exercised previously. (references) |
Travel | Botswana | Civil unrest and disorder are rare, and violent crime is infrequent. (references) |
Brazil | Many Brazilian executives do not react favorably to quick and infrequent visits by foreign sales representatives. (references) | |
Women | Burma | Domestic violence against women, including spousal abuse, appears to be relatively infrequent. (references) |
Kiribati | Rape, including spousal rape, is a crime, and the law is enforced when charges are brought to court, although it is suspected that prosecutions are relatively infrequent. (references) | |
Worker Rights | Laos | Labor disputes reportedly are infrequent. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
Lyndon B. Johnson | 1963-1969 | For many painful years, in war and revolution and infrequent peace, they have struggled to fulfill those needs. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Infrequent" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 99.61% of the time. "Infrequent" is used about 257 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 99.61% | 256 | 18,500 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.39% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 257 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expression using "infrequent": infrequent combination of actions. Additional references. | |
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "infrequent": all-too-infrequent, durables-infrequent, not-infrequent. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
infrequent | 17 |
infrequent urination | 5 |
bowel infrequent movement | 3 |
infrequent period | 2 |
in infrequent toddler urination | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "infrequent"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | i rrallë (curious, far between, out of the way, rare, scarce, singular, sparse, stray, thin, uncommon, unwonted), jo i shpeshtë. (various references) | |
Arabic | نادر (anecdotic, close, exceptional, exceptive, few and far between, out of the ordinary, phenomenal, rare, recherche, scarce, tight, uncommon, unusual), غير مواظب, غير نظامي (casual, irregular). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | рядък (close, fine, occasional, one in a thousand, rare, recherche, singular, sparse, thin, uncommon, washy). (various references) | |
Chinese | 少有, 希 (rare). (various references) | |
Czech | vzácný (few and far between, minor, noble, precious, rare, scarce, uncommon, valuable), řídký (far between, few and far between, rare, runny, scarce, sparse, tenuous, thin, washy). (various references) | |
Danish | sjælden kombination af påvirkninger (infrequent combination of actions), sjælden kombination af indvirkninger (infrequent combination of actions). (various references) | |
Farsi | نادر (Curious, Rare, Scarce, Uncommon), کمیاب (Curiosity, Rare, Scarce, Uncommon), کم (Junior, Light, Little, Low, Marginal, Rare, Remote, Scant, Scanty, Scarce, Scrimpy, Skimp, Slender, Slight, Small). (various references) | |
Finnish | harvoin tapahtuva, harvinainen (rare, uncommon, unusual). (various references) | |
French | rare, peu fréquent. (various references) | |
German | selten (rare, seldom, rarely, scarce). (various references) | |
Greek | όχι συχνόσ, σπάνιοσ (rare, scarce). (various references) | |
Hebrew | נדיר (rare, scarce, uncommon, unusual). (various references) | |
Hungarian | ritka (sparse, scarce, straggling), nem gyakori. (various references) | |
Indonesian | jarang (rare, scarce, seldom, sporadic). (various references) | |
Italian | infrequente, raro (rare, scarce), rado (light, occasional, sparse, thin). (various references) | |
Korean | 드문 (uncommon). (various references) | |
Manx | anvennick (rarely, seldom), anoayllagh (coltish, ignorant, raw, unacquainted, uninformed), anchliaghtagh. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | infrequentay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | infrequente, raro (rare, scarce, sporadic), pouco frequente. (various references) | |
Romanian | rar (seldom), ocazional (accidental, casual, casually, circumstantial, fugitive, haphazard, incidental, occasional, occasionally). (various references) | |
Russian | редкий (rare, scarce, sparse). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | redak (rare, scarce, spare, sparse, thin). (various references) | |
Spanish | infrecuente. (various references) | |
Swedish | sällsynt (rare, scarce), ovanlig (extraordinary, singular, unusual). (various references) | |
Turkish | seyrek (few and far between, rare, scarce, scattered, seldom, sparse, straggly, tenuous, thin), nadir (exceptional, few and far between, rare, scarce, uncommon, unusual, unwonted), az bulunur (rare, scarce). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | рідкісний (few, occasional, offbeat, out of the way, rare, scarce). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | không thường xuyên (far-between, sporadic, sporadical), hiếm khi xảy ra, ít xảy ra (unfrequent). (various references) | |
Welsh | anfynych (rare, seldom), anaml (rare, rarely, seldom). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | rarius, rarum. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "infrequent": infrequently. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "infrequent" (pronounced i'nfrē"kwunt) |
| 8 | -f r ē" k w u n t | frequent. |
| 6 | -ē" k w u n t | Sequent. |
| 5 | -k w u n t | consequent, delinquent, eloquent, grandiloquent, subsequent. |
| 3 | -u n t | agent, aggrandizement, agreement, ailment, alignment, allotment, amazement, ambient, ambivalent, amendment, amusement, ancient, announcement, annulment, antecedent, antidepressant, antigovernment, antioxidant, apartment, apparent, appeasement, applicant, appointment, apportionment, ardent, argent, argument, armament, arraignment, arrangement, arrant, arrogant, absent, absorbent, abstinent, abundant, accelerant, accident, accompaniment, accomplishment, abandonment, abatement, aberrant, abhorrent, abortifacient, accountant, accouterment, achievement, acknowledgement, acknowledgment, adamant, adherent, adjacent, adjournment, adjustment, adjutant, adolescent, adornment, advancement, advertisement, advisement, afferent, affiant, affluent, ascendant, aspirant, assailant, assessment, assignment, assistant, assortment, astonishment, astringent, atonement, attachment, attainment, attendant, banishment, basement, battlement, belligerent, bemusement, beneficent, benevolent, bereavement, betterment, bewilderment, blandishment, blatant, bombardment, brilliant, buoyant, celebrant, claimant, clairvoyant, Clement, client, coefficient, cogent, cognizant, coherent, coincident, combatant, commandment, commencement, commitment, compartment, competent, complacent, complainant, complaisant, complement, compliant, component, comportment, concealment, concomitant, concurrent, condiment, confident, confinement, confluent, consignment, consistent, consonant, constant, constituent, consultant, containment, contaminant, contentment, contestant, continent, contingent, convalescent, convenient, convent, convergent, conversant, coolant, copayment, corespondent, cormorant, correspondent, Courant, covenant, Crescent, crosscurrent, current, curtailment, ignorant, immanent, immigrant, imminent, impairment, impatient, impeachment, impediment, impertinent, implement, important, impotent, impoundment, impoverishment, impressment, imprisonment, improvement, imprudent, inadvertent, incandescent, debarment, debasement, decadent, decedent, decent, declarant, decongestant, defendant, deferment, defiant, deficient, defoliant, deodorant, department, dependent, deployment, deportment, depressant, derailment, descendant, descendent, despondent, detachment, detergent, determent, determinant, deterrent, detriment, development, deviant, different, diligent, diminishment, disagreement, disappointment, disarmament, disbarment, disbursement, discernment, discordant, discouragement, disenchantment, disenfranchisement, disengagement, disestablishment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, disinfectant, disinvestment, dismantlement, dismemberment, disobedient, dispersant, displacement, dissident, dissonant, distant, divalent, divergent, divestment, docent, dominant, dormant, easement, ebullient, efferent, effervescent, efficient, effluent, elegant, element, elephant, embankment, embarrassment, embayment, embellishment, embezzlement, embodiment, emergent, emigrant, eminent, emplacement, employment, empowerment, enactment, encampment, enchantment, encirclement, encouragement, encroachment, endangerment, endearment, endorsement, endowment, enforcement, engagement, enhancement, enjoyment, enlargement, enlightenment, enlistment, enrichment, enrollment, enslavement, entanglement, entertainment, enticement, entitlement, entombment, entrant, entrapment, entrenchment, environment, equipment, equivalent, errant, escapement, escarpment, esculent, establishment, estrangement, evanescent, evident, excellent, excitement, excrement, exigent, existent, exorbitant, expectant, expectorant, expedient, experiment, exponent, extant, extinguishment, extravagant, exuberant, exultant, Fabricant, fervent, figment, filament, flagrant, flamboyant, flatulent, flippant, fluent, fluorescent, formant, fragment, fragrant, fraudulent, fulfillment, gallant, garment, garnishment, giant, government, grandparent, harassment, hesitant, hydrant, incessant, incident, incipient, incitement, inclement, incoherent, incompetent, inconsistent, incontinent, inconvenient, increment, incumbent, indecent, independent, indictment, indifferent, indigent, indignant, indolent, inducement, indulgent, inefficient, infant, informant, infotainment, infringement, ingredient, inhabitant, inhalant, inherent, innocent, inpatient, insignificant, insistent, insolent, insolvent, installment, instant, instrument, insufficient, insurgent, integument, intelligent, intercurrent, interdependent, intermittent, internment, intersegment, intolerant, intransigent, invariant, investment, involvement, iridescent, irrelevant, irreverent, irritant, itinerant, jubilant, judgement, judgment, latent, leant, lenient, lieutenant, ligament, litigant, lubricant, lucent, luminescent, luxuriant, magnificent, malevolent, malignant, maltreatment, management, measurement, merchant, micromanagement, migrant, militant, miscreant, misgovernment, misjudgment, mismanagement, misstatement, mistreatment, moment, monovalent, monument, mordant, movement, mutant, nascent, negligent, noncombatant, nonexistent, nongovernment, nonmanagement, nonpayment, nonresident, nonviolent, nourishment, nutrient, obedient, observant, obsolescent, occupant, odorant, ointment, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, operant, opponent, opulent, ornament, orpiment, outpatient, outplacement, overconfident, overpayment, overstatement, oxidant, pageant, parchment, parent, parliament, participant, patent, patient, pavement, payment, peasant, penchant, pendant, penitent, pennant, percipient, permanent, persistent, pertinent, petulant, pheasant, pigment, piquant, placement, pleasant, pliant, poignant, pollutant, postponement, postretirement, potent, preadolescent, precedent, predicament, predominant, preeminent, pregnant, prejudgment, prepayment, prescient, present, presentment, prevalent, procurement, proficient, prominent, pronouncement, propellant, proponent, protestant, provident, prudent, prurient, pungent, punishment, pursuant, puzzlement, quadrant, quiescent, quotient, radiant, rampant, readjustment, reagent, realignment, reappointment, reapportionment, rearmament, rearrangement, reassessment, reassignment, recalcitrant, recent, recipient, recombinant, recruitment, recurrent, redeployment, redevelopment, redundant, reemployment, reenactment, refinement, refreshment, refrigerant, refurbishment, Regent, regiment, registrant, reimbursement, reinforcement, reinstatement, reinvestment, relevant, reliant, reluctant, reminiscent, remnant, repayment, repellent, repentant, replacement, replenishment, repugnant, requirement, resentment, resettlement, resident, resilient, resistant, resonant, resplendent, respondent, restatement, resultant, resurgent, retardant, reticent, retirement, retrenchment, reverent, rodent, rudiment, ruminant, sacrament, salient, seafront, sealant, sediment, segment, semipermanent, sentiment, sergeant, serpent, servant, settlement, shipment, significant, silent, solvent, somnolent, stagnant, statement, stimulant, strident, stringent, student, subcontinent, subservient, succulent, sufficient, supergiant, superintendent, supplement, supplicant, suppressant, surfactant, talent, tangent, temperament, tenant, tenement, testament, tetravalent, tolerant, torrent, tournament, transcendent, transient, translucent, transparent, treatment, trenchant, trident, triumphant, truant, truculent, tumescent, turbulent, tyrant, undercurrent, underdevelopment, underemployment, undergarment, underpayment, understatement, unemployment, unimportant, unpleasant, unrepentant, urgent, vacant, vagrant, valiant, variant, vehement, verdant, vibrant, vigilant, violent, virulent, warrant, wonderment. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "e-e-f-i-n-n-q-r-t-u" | |
-2 letters: frequent. | |
-3 letters: enquire, funnier, interne, neurine, quieten, quieter, requite, retinue, reunite, uterine. | |
-4 letters: entire, equine, ferine, funner, intern, inturn, neuter, quinte, refine, refute, rennet, requin, retine, retune, tenner, tenure, tinner, triene, triune, tureen, unfree, uniter, unrent. | |
-5 letters: ennui, enter, enure, feint, finer, fique, fruit, inert, infer, inner, inter, inure, inurn, niter, nitre, queen, queer. | |
| Words containing the letters "e-e-f-i-n-n-q-r-t-u" | |
+1 letter: frequenting. | |
+2 letters: infrequently. | |
+3 letters: frequentation. | |
+4 letters: frequentations. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
